News : VS School Board hears update from FFA, Elementary Data Team

The VS Schol Board met in regular session on Monday, May 13 prior to the vocal concert. Highlights from the meeting include:

· Three students from the FFA chapter and Ms. Fleming provided an update to the board concerning their work on the goals they had set for the 2012-13 year. They have met or exceeded almost all of them and they are setting new goals for the next year. They presented the board with beautiful plants and pots in recognition of School Board Recognition month.

· Elementary Data Team Leaders provided an overview of the work they have done with their language arts and math work this year. Their data demonstrated the learning students have made in specific areas and how the teams are using the data to support the students’ learning and the use of Response-to-Intervention. Jenn Heckman, Cara Patterson, Laurie Hyland, Becky Sturtz, Jill Johnson, Jodi Hacker, Sarah Mathis, Myra Hall, Jim Murray and Sheila Wendel shared their experiences and some of their students’ results.

· Under General Business of the Board, the board approved the consent agenda items including: Minutes from the April 8 regular and April 17th special meetings; bills; financial reports; financial transfers; a bid from Hunt and Associates to continue as our auditors for the next three years; contract with Grant Wood AEA so they can purchase Becky Gardemann’s contract from us so she can serve as a mentor within their new program; modification of the 2013-14 calendar so the spring parent-teacher conferences at the MS and HS are held on a Monday/Thursday; resignations from Nate Lahr as math teacher, Deanna Weber as MS/HS media specialist, Stephanie Miller as head volleyball coach and MS softball coach, Kelsey Blattler as JV volleyball coach, Janet Hurst as food service, and Charles Moe returned his contract unsigned to be our new music teacher; contract modifications for Danielle Phippen to move from half-time preschool to full-time preschool and Nancy Levis to move from part-time to 7.5 hours per day as an associate; hiring of Tim Haerther as summer help for mowing and other outside work, Trisha Tendick as secondary Extended Learning Program teacher, Alissa Brunssen as elementary Extended Learning Program teacher, and Michala Martin as secondary vocal teacher; Lynnette Voss as a transfer from 1st grade to kindergarten; and changes in the high school handbook for next year.

· The board approved a list of 130 potential graduates to receive their diplomas.

· The board reviewed and approved the school fees for the 2013-14 year. In general, fees will stay the same. There will be a new co-op offered at the HS for families that want their students to be able to take computers home with them. There will be a charge of $40 per student to belong to the coop; the board also approved the option for students to work 8 hours in lieu of the fee although the final details need to be finalized.

· The board moved into exempt session to discuss settlement agreements for non-certified and administrative staff. They moved out of exempt session and approved settlement conditions and contracts to be awarded for the staff.